VAIL — At a pep rally introducing U.S. Ski Team racers for the upcoming season, Lindsey Vonn got to introduce her homecoming date to a crowd of hundreds assembled to cheer the team Saturday in Vail Village.

While speaking to the crowd, Vonn pointed out Parker McDonald, 15, a nordic racer who asked her to his homecoming dance Thursday when she visited the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy. The dance was Friday night.

“Parker was a great date,” Vonn told the crowd. “He was a gentleman. He kept his hands above the waist — my husband was really happy about that. And he had some serious dance moves — I was very impressed.”

McDonald was still pretty excited about his dream date on Saturday.

“Outstanding, it was awesome,” McDonald said. “It was the best night of my life.”

What possessed him to ask a 27-year-old woman who is one of the world’s most glamorous female athletes?

“I didn’t have a date,” McDonald said.

About 40 athletes on the A, B, C and development teams appeared during the celebration in a steady snowstorm. Earlier in the day, the team trained at Golden Peak.

Also speaking to the crowd was 16-year-old Mikaela Shiffrin of Avon, who was named to the team after posting sensational results last year in Nor Am races.

“Now I’m here with all these amazing people and I’m so happy,” Shiffrin told the crowd. “I’d like to think I’m just one of the crew.”

The Post's ski and Olympics writer, Meyer covered his 12th Games last summer in Rio de Janeiro. He has covered five World Alpine Ski Championships and more than 100 World Cup ski events. He is a member of the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Colorado Running Hall of Fame. He regularly covers running and the Colorado Rapids.

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